Wire-fence stay



(No Model.)

H. D. MILLER & H. D. TILMAN.

WIRE FENCE STAY.

No. 557,593. Patented Apr. 7, 1896.

WiTIJQSSQS S:

UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

HENRY D. MILLER AND HUMPIIREY D. TILMAN, OF GREENVILLE, OHIO.

WiRE=FENCE STAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,593, dated April '7, 1896.

Application filed July 19, 1895. Serial No. 556,503. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HENRY D. MILLER and HUMPHREY D. TILBIAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Greenville, in the county of Darke and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful \Vire-Fence Stay, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wire fences, and most especiallyto the means for securing the fence or line wires to the stays or fence-posts.

The invention consists, essentially, of oppositely-disposed tongues formed at the edges of the stay or fence-post by inwardly-extending slits, which connect with corresponding slits or cuts running substantially parallel with the length or edges of the said stay or post, said tongues being bent or coiled about the fence orline wire in reverse directions.

The improvement will be more particularly set forth hereinafter and finally embodied in the claim, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front elevation of a portion of a fence stay or post, showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a view of the remote side of 2. Fig. at is a cross-section on the line X X of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the manner of forming the tongues and their relative position prior to being bent or coiled about the fence or line wire.

The numeral 1 indicates a metallic fence stay or post,which may be of any desired formation and which is preferably crimped or deflected between its edge portions, so as to form a rib 2, which gives stability to the device and enables it to be formed from sheet metal of comparatively light gage. Oppositely-disposed tongues 3 are provided at the edges of the stay or post, and are formed by inwardly-extending slits or cuts 5 and corresponding slits or cuts 4, the latter forming a continuation of the slits 5 and extending lengthwise of the stay or post and substantially parallel with the edges thereof. The longitudinal slits 34 extend in opposite direc tions and their inner portions overlap for a distance corresponding to the diameter of the fence or line wire 6 o as to admit of the latter lying in a plane at right angles to the length of the stay or post 1. The tongues 3 are curved outwardly from the same side of the stay or post, but in reverse directions, so as to be bent around the fence or line wire 6 from opposite directions,thereby preventing any possible movement of the wire upon the stay or post in -a vertical direction. By the opposite disposition of the tongues 3 corresponding shoulders or stops are formed above and below the line-wire, so as to receive the verticalthrust thereof attendant upon the usage to which wire fencing is subjected by the tendency of stock to pass over, underneath, or between the fence-wires. It will be understood that the tongues 3 will be provided in pairs, a pair being had for each fence or line wire, so as to provide means for firmly attaching the latter to the stay or post.

The inwardly-extending slits or cuts 5 may be formed at right angles to the edges of the stay or post or at any required angle, and it is preferred to have them extend at an angle other than at right angles, thereby providing inclined ends to the tongues 3, the projecting portions of which will lie adjacent to the outer edges of the stay or post and completely encircle the fence-wire 6.

The invention is peculiarly adapted for fence-stays, and it is designed particularlyfor this purpose, but it is obvious that the same can be equally well applied to fence-posts with like advantage, as herein set forth. By providing the tongues in the manner set forth the employment of extra metal or additional fastenings for securing the fence or line wire is wholly obviated. The fastening is effective, and the bending or coiling of the tongues about the fence-wire can be accomplished quickly by the use of a suitable tool or in any convenient manner which will suggest itself to the skilled artisan.

Having thus described the invention,what is claimed as new is- The combination with a line or fence Wire, of a metallic stay having a longitudinal rib midway of its edges, and having slits extending inwardly from its edges, and longitudinal slits extending in opposite directions parallel with and at the sides of the said rib and intersecting with the said inwardly-extending slits, forming tongues Which are coiled about the line-Wire and occur Within the plane of the edges of the stay, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as ourown We have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY D. MILLER. HUMPHREY D. TILMAN. Vitnesses \VM. H. HOFF, II. F. DERSHEM. 

